Acetonitrile (75-05-8) (C2H3N)

Acetonitrile (CH3CN) is a colorless, volatile liquid with a faint, sweet odor. It has a molecular weight of approximately 41.05 g/mol and is highly polar and water-soluble. Acetonitrile is widely used as a solvent in organic synthesis, particularly in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, due to its ability to dissolve a wide variety of organic compounds. It is commonly used in liquid chromatography, especially in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), as a solvent for mobile phases.
In addition to its use in pharmaceuticals, acetonitrile is employed in the extraction of organic compounds and as a solvent in the production of plastics, paints, coatings, and electronics manufacturing. It is also used in nitration reactions, and as a solvent in the acrylonitrile production process. Due to its toxicity, proper handling and storage are essential in industrial settings.